Life by chocolate

I have a confession to make. 

I bake desserts in order to de-stress. This is a recent event.

I know, this is not good for my health. Or my waistline. Although weight hasn't been a problem for me lately...getting married made me lose weight. Stephan's gained weight, though I am NOT complaining.

Growing up, my mom used to bake cookies (or some other dessert) on Sunday nights. I don't know if she still does since her kids moved out. My brothers and I used to fight over who got to help her, because the helper usually got to lick the beaters and the bowl *smiles*. I guess baking comforts me because it reminds me of the times when I didn't have to worry about money, finding a job, and running a household. 

Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are a favorite around here. Stephan didn't get much in the way of these delightful cookies growing up because his dad and a brother are allergic to peanut butter (the poor unfortunate souls). I also got a Mrs. Fields cookie cookbook as a wedding present and I have been experimenting with a few of those recipes, which contain more butter than what should be legal. I don't care, they taste phenomenal. 

I recently discovered "The Pioneer Woman", which brings me to the reason for this post's title.

She has an entire section devoted to CHOCOLATE. I consider chocolate to be the nectar of a woman's life. One of the recent recipes she has posted is called "Life by Chocolate". The Pioneer Woman argues that chocolate is a life-giving elixir, none of this talk of "death by chocolate". I have to agree with her.

What is this? They are chocolate cupcakes. So, chocolate cupcakes...what's the big deal? They have Hershey's kisses baked inside. And the cupcakes themselves are so moist!

Tell me those don't look good to you. 

I decided I had to make these. 

So, late-ish on Friday night, I proceeded to baking these delightful morsels. I ended up not making the ganache frosting because I didn't feel like it, and it was getting really late. Without the frosting, they were amazing. Stephan had one and proceeded to kiss the living daylights out of me. Yes, he liked them that much. I might try the frosting next time.

Here's the recipe:

• CUPCAKES
• 2 cups Sugar
• 2 cups All-purpose Flour
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• ½ cups Buttermilk
• 2 whole Eggs
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 2 sticks 1 Cup Butter
• 4 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa Powder
• 1 cup Water, Boiling
• 18 whole Hershey's Kisses, Unwrapped
• Canned Pitted Cherries (optional)
• GANACHE
• 8 ounces, weight Bittersweet Chocolate
• 1 cup Heavy Cream
• 6 Tablespoons Corn Syrup
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 18 muffin cups with baking spray.

To make the cake batter, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Set aside.

In a separate container, combine buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir to combine and set aside.

In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and stir to combine. Add boiling water, allow to bubble for a few seconds, then turn off heat.

Pour chocolate mixture over flour mixture. Stir a few times to cool the chocolate. Pour buttermilk mixture over the top and stir to combine.

Pour 1/4 cup cake batter into each muffin cup. Lightly set one kiss in the middle of each cupcake; do not press down.

(Alternately, you can add 3 canned, pitted cherries to each muffin cup before adding the batter.)

Bake for 20 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then remove cupcakes and allow to cool on a baking rack.

To make the ganache, heat cream and corn syrup over medium heat. Chop chocolate and add to a bowl. Add vanilla to cream mixture, then pour cream mixture over the top of the chopped chocolate. Whisk together until melted, smooth, and glossy.

Dunk cupcakes in ganache. Allow to cool and set before serving.

**Note: I made the recipe almost exactly and came out with more batter than for eighteen cupcakes. It might be the size pans I have, however. And if you don't have buttermilk, that's okay, because you can pour a little bit of white vinegar (1/2 tablespoon to 1/2 cup of milk, I believe...look it up).

I've been trying, and you still can't see all of the instructions. Here's a link to the website:

Life by Chocolate--The Pioneer Woman


She also includes pictures of the cooking process.